Fluoride

Fluoride is one of the most extensively studied ingredients in oral care, and major dental associations worldwide, including the British Dental Association, continue to recommend it as an effective way to prevent cavities. It works by strengthening enamel and making it more resistant to acid attacks. That said, fluoride is not the only path to effective oral care. Ingredients like micro-hydroxyapatite now offer well-researched alternatives. Whether you need fluoride depends on your personal risk factors, your preferences and the rest of your oral care routine. The most important thing is that your toothpaste contains an active ingredient that genuinely protects your teeth, fluoride is one of them, but not the only one.

In the UK and EU, the standard recommendation for adults and children over 6 is 1350 to 1500 ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. This is the concentration supported by the NHS, the British Dental Association and the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. Below this range, fluoride may not be concentrated enough to provide meaningful cavity protection. Our fluoride products contain 1450 ppm of sodium fluoride, right at the optimal level recommended by dental professionals for effective daily use.

Yes, and many people do. For example, you might use a fluoride toothpaste for brushing and a fluoride-free probiotic mouthwash for microbiome support, or alternate between a hydroxyapatite toothpaste in the morning and a fluoride toothpaste at night. There is no contraindication, the two approaches work through complementary mechanisms and can be combined freely. Building a mixed routine allows you to benefit from both fluoride's proven enamel-hardening effect and the microbiome or remineralisation support that fluoride-free ingredients provide.

At the concentrations used in toothpaste (1000–1500 ppm), fluoride is considered safe for daily use by all major health authorities, including the WHO, NHS and European Commission. The concerns that circulate online typically relate to fluorosis (a cosmetic condition caused by excessive fluoride intake during childhood) or to high-dose industrial exposure, neither of which is relevant to normal toothpaste use. Fluoride toothpaste has been used safely by billions of people for over 70 years. The important thing is to use it as directed: a pea-sized amount, spit after brushing, and supervise young children to minimise swallowing.

When you brush with fluoride toothpaste, fluoride ions interact with the calcium and phosphate in your enamel to form fluorapatite, a crystalline compound that is significantly harder and more acid-resistant than the original hydroxyapatite your enamel is made of. This process both repairs early-stage demineralisation (where acids have begun to dissolve the enamel surface) and reinforces healthy enamel against future acid attacks. Fluoride also has a mild antibacterial effect, helping to inhibit the metabolism of plaque bacteria and reducing the amount of acid they produce.